If you love curries and fancy slathering them onto rice or sopping up bits with your naan or parathas, then you almost always have leftover curry at any given time. Just like finding ways to use leftover curry paste, you’ll want to know what to do with leftover curry once you’re done making it. Luckily, I’ve got the best leftover curry recipes.
Some recipes that use leftover curry are curry vegetable fritters, Japanese curry Doria, curry ramen, curry soup, and curry laksa. But this isn’t all you can make with leftover curry, so let’s hop into tons more!
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🤷 What is a Curry?
Curry is a broad term used to describe a variety of dishes originating from South Asian countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. It typically refers to a savory dish made with a combination of spices, herbs, and often a sauce or gravy. Curries can feature a range of ingredients including meat, poultry, seafood, vegetables, legumes, or tofu, cooked in the flavorful sauce until tender and aromatic.
📌 Types of Curries From Around The Globe
Thai Curry: Thai curry is a flavorful dish from Thailand, known for its rich coconut milk base, curry paste mixture, and blend of spices. Red curry paste substitutes offer options for different curry spice levels, while green curry paste substitutes provide milder alternatives to flavor and spice.
Indian Chicken Tikka Masala: A creamy and tomato-based curry with tender chunks of chicken marinated in yogurt and spices, simmered in a rich sauce infused with garlic, ginger, onions, and garam masala, often served with naan or rice for a classic Indian dish.
Japanese Katsu Curry: A Japanese-style curry featuring breaded and fried cutlets of meat (often pork or chicken) served with a thick and savory curry sauce made from curry roux blocks, onions, carrots, and potatoes, offering a comforting and hearty meal.
Malaysian Laksa: A spicy and coconut-based curry soup with a blend of Chinese and Malay flavors, featuring rice noodles, shrimp, chicken, tofu, or vegetables, garnished with herbs, lime, and sometimes sambal for an aromatic and satisfying dish.
Jamaican Goat Curry: A flavorful and spicy curry dish made with tender pieces of goat meat marinated in a blend of Caribbean spices such as allspice, thyme, Scotch bonnet peppers, and curry powder, simmered with potatoes, carrots, and onions for a hearty and aromatic stew.
💡 15 Ways to Use Up Leftover Curry
Appetizers
Curry Vegetable Fritters – Curry vegetable fritters are amazing if you have just the right amount of leftover curry. They’re made with curry, grated potatoes, carrots (feel free to sub with other veggies), and self-rising flour. Just pan-fry them in oil until cooked through, crisp and golden. They’ll go great with a raita, chutney, or just plain Greek yogurt.
Check out the recipe for Leftover Curry Vegetable Fritters.
Curried Sausages and Onions – Are you looking to make a delicious, hearty combination for tonight’s game? This dish is like a sauce-y currywurst that’ll give your boring old sausage platter a much-needed facelift! Just saute your sausages and sweat the onions, then toss in some leftover Thai or Indian curry to create a tasty snack for guests and families alike to enjoy.
Check out the recipe for Curried Sausages here.
Rice Dishes
Leftover Curry Pulao – With this recipe, you can skip all the pulao steps and dump curry and long-grain rice into a rice cooker. This way, you’ll get deep flavors from the pre-made curry dish fully absorbed into the rice. Season the mixture before turning on the cooker with salt, pepper, and some more spices like cumin and garam for an even more flavorful experience.
Check the recipe for Leftover Chicken Curry Pulao.
Leftover Curry Chicken Biryani – You can make an amazing chicken biryani dish with leftover Indian curry. It’ll need about a cup and a half of leftover curry for every cup of cooked basmati. You can even make it in a rice cooker. A simple but slightly time-consuming recipe that’ll be a labor of flavor and taste.
Check the recipe for Leftover Curry Chicken Biryani.
Japanese Curry Doria – Combining the flavors of seafood and Japanese Curry is this Japanese curry Doria. Swap the tomato sauce base and instead sauté your meat, then add your leftover curry. Layer the meat over cooked rice, sprinkle cheese and panko on top, and there you have it. A delicious Japanese-style curry.
Check the recipe for Curry Doria here.
Noodle and Pasta Dishes
Curry Ramen – Why not make a delicious ramen even better by throwing in some of your leftover curry. Cook some vegetables in water and then add the leftover curry. You can use starchy veggies or add a thickener to make the base while adjusting the seasoning to taste. Fresh or instant ramen noodles work well in this hearty soup recipe.
Check the recipe for Vegan Curry Ramen here.
Curry Noodle (or Pasta) Stir-Fry – This has got to be one of the simplest ways of using up leftover curry. Just prepare your pasta or noodles according to the package instructions and sauté your aromatics and cook the vegetables. Add in the curry, then noodles, and toss together for a quick weeknight meal.
Check the recipe for this Red Curry Noodles here.
Curry Laksa – This magical dish is a blend of Chinese noodles and Southeast Asian-flavored curry. It’s topped with shredded chicken, shrimp or shrimp paste, beansprouts, tofu, cilantro, lime wedge, and red chilis (or chili paste or sriracha). Using up a sizable amount of leftover Thai chicken, seafood, or beef curry, you can easily turn it into laksa with noodles and the toppings listed.
Check the recipe for an Easy Curry Laksa here.
Savory Dishes
Creamy Egg Curry – Give your hard-boiled eggs for breakfast a twist with a tomato-based curry sauce. Combine the leftover curry with all the meat, legumes, and beans going into the pot. Then, put the eggs in the pan, coat them with the sauce, and there you have it. A delicious bowl of creamy egg curry. There are also some ways to thicken curry sauce you can use to create an even creamier curry.
Check the recipe for Egg Curry here.
Curry Omelet – If you only have a little bit of Thai curry left (about a quarter cup), save that for your breakfast omelet the next morning. This amazing dish cooks all together in a skillet. All you need to do is whisk about 5 eggs, tomatoes, onions, green chilis, and leftover curry in a bowl, and that’s it! The only thing left to do is to cook your omelet. Since this is a large batch, make sure to leave your omelet mixture to set properly or brown well at the bottom before flipping.
Check out the recipe for Sri Lankan Curry Omelet here.
Curry Soup – If I’m being honest, curry soup is my go-to on a rainy day. Whether I have leftover curry or Thai curry, I simply thin it out with stock, add meat and/or vegetables to the pot, and let the flavors come together. The recipe will save you tons of time in the kitchen and give you a delicious, healthy, and filling soup at the same time.
Check the recipe for Curry Soup here.
Deep-fried Tofu with Curry Sauce – Do you have a ton of leftover curry sauce with no more meat or vegetables left? Use it as a sauce! Simply deep fry some tofu or pop them in the air fryer. Set them aside. Bring out your leftover curry sauce and thicken it with canned or chopped tomatoes. Drain them because we don’t want the runny sauce, then pour the sauce into a deep dish and top with the fried tofu. A sauce that’s perfect for any occasion.
Check the recipe for Easy Tofu with Curry Sauce here.
Kofta Balls with Curry Sauce – Another great way to use leftover curry is to make Kofta balls with curry sauce. Just emulsify your leftover curry with heavy cream and tomatoes and adjust the seasoning if needed. Once done, layer the meatballs on top of the thick curry sauce and serve with rice or flatbread.
Check the recipe for Kofta Kebab Masala here.
Bread and Sandwiches
Curry Puffs – This curry puff recipe is so delicious and makes great use of leftover curry, provided you have about two cups worth. There’s no need for any baking skills here whatsoever. All you need is your oven and a pastry block from the grocery. Shred or flake your meat, then mince or mash up all the vegetables in your curry before placing them in the puff pastry. Bake for about 20 minutes, and your curry puffs will be ready to serve.
Check the recipe for Leftover Curry Puffs here.
Kare Pan – Have your curry dreams taken you into a Japanese bakery with those aromatic, hot, golden Kare pans? Dream no longer, as this recipe makes perfect use of leftover Japanese curry in this delicious pastry. Just fill the dough with curry, apply a coating of whisked egg, sprinkle with panko, then leave it to rise. Once risen, deep-fry it until golden for the perfect curry snack to bring wherever.
Check the recipe for Japanese Curry Bread here.
🧐 FAQs
Leftover curry can last in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. It’s important to store it properly to prevent it from spoiling. If you are unsure whether your leftover curry is still safe to eat, it’s recommended to look and smell for any signs of spoilage, such as a sour smell, mold, or a strange taste.
Yes, leftover curry can be frozen for later use. Simply transfer the curry to an airtight container or freezer bag, and store it in the freezer for up to 2-3 months.
To store leftover curry, let it cool down to room temperature, and then transfer it to an airtight container or a plastic wrap. It’s important to keep the curry away from any sources of heat, such as the stove or the oven, to prevent it from spoiling.